Khurshid Shah expresses reservations over 'covert' budget-making without consulting PPP
Pakistan
He is “unaware whether the government is preparing a buget or the IMF's budget is being imposed"
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – There are signs of growing gulf between the ruling Muslim League (PML-N) and its ally People’s Party (PPP) as the latter is reportedly claimed it is not consulted in preparation of budget 2024-25.
Former minister and PPP central executive leader Syed Khurshid Shah in a statement on Sunday revealed that the PML-N ally “is not being consulted on the upcoming federal budget 2024-25.
"The government neither told us anything related to the budget nor took us into confidence. We don't know what the PML-N is doing about privatisation policy, taxes, developmental programme," the senior PPP leader said.
He sounded angry as the PPP was unaware of relief measures for the inflation-stricken segments.
Shah said he is “unaware whether the government is preparing a buget of its own or the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) budget is being imposed.”
He said that the PPP’s proposals should have been included in the federal budget at any cost. "People will ask us [being supporter of the PML-N government] what we have done. Will we tell them that we don't even know about it?"
Shah said that the party chairman will have to see politically what decision to take regarding the budget — which will be announced on June 12.
The session is expected to take a break from June 13 to 19 and will resume on June 20, said a news release of the assembly.
General discussion on the budget will be held from June 20 to 24. The debate on cut motions is scheduled for June 26 and 27, while June 28 is designated for the discussion and approval of the Finance Bill.
